Pump driven by means of compressed or rarefied gas.



0. RODHE. PUMP DRIVBN BY MEANS 0F coMPRBssED 0R RAREFIBD GAS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Jan.

W4 ruff-555s 0. RODHE.

PUMP DRIVBN BY MEANS 0F GOMPRBSSBD 0R RARBPIBD GAS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.6,1909.

947,533. Patented Jan.25, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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0. RODHE. PUMPDRIVBN BY MEANS o'P COMPRESSE!) 0R RARBFIED GAS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6.1909.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

3 SHEETS--SHBBT 3.

OLOF RODHE, OF STOCKSUND. SWEDEN.

PUMP DRIVEN BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED OR RAREFIED GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atonted Jan. 25, 1910.

Application filed April 6, 1909. Serial No. 488,244.

To all 'whom 'it 'mc/y concern:

Be it known that I, OLor lionne, engineer, subject of the Kinoot' Sweden, residing at Stocksund, in the kingdom ot' Sweden, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pumps Driven by Means of Compressed or Rarefied Gas, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to pump devices of the class in which to effect the pumping action, one of two vessels or pipes (':on'nnunicating with each ot-her and contain ing a liquid, are connected with a pipe 'for compressed or rarefied gas (for example air or carbonic acid), so that the column or columns of liquid in the other vessel or vessels by means of the action ot' the said gas, rises or sinks, respectively, to any desired degree, whereupon, by means ol automatically actuated valves the passage for the compressed or rareed gas is closed and the vessel or pipe first mentioned is put into communication with the atmosphere so that the pressure in the said vessel returns c. 'falls or rises) to the outer pressure. In this way the columns of liquid assume once more their original levels, in doing which, the said valves are automatically closed, so that pressure or vacuum in the first named vessel once more occurs, and again interrupted in the same way, and so on, so that the columns of liquid receive a periodically rising and falling movement, and in doing so act as pump pistons.

In the apparatus of this kind hitherto known, the communication ot' thc said vessel, connected with the pipe 'for compressed or rarefied gas, with the atmoslihere has been effected by means ot' mechanical valves, actuated by floats connected therewith and floating on the rising and sinking columns of' liquid, contained in said vessels and niechanical valves have also been arranged in said pipe for compressed or raretied gas which valves during the work have been opened and closed alternately with the closing and opening of the valves through which the communication of said reservoir with the atmosphere is effected.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the use of mechanical valves and floats for the said purpose, as mechanical valves and floats very easily get out of order, whereby much trouble may be caused, especially when the pumping device or apparatus is intended to work without personal control, as for instance when used for operating automatically acting apparatus for analyzing gases. lhe said disadvantages are, according to the present invention, obviated by the use olE liquid seals for opening and closing communication between the said reservoir and the atmosphere, instead of mechanical valves and the floats operating the same. By means of the liquid seals, the reservoirs or vessels, connected with the pipes for compressed or rarefied gas are automatically put into connection with the atmosphere for a sufficiently long time, wherei upon the liquid-seals are again automatically closed, without any use ol mechanical parts and without any danger' of said liquid-seals leaking or getting out ot order. By the use oit liquid-seals 'for said purpose, no 'alve in the pipe Vt'or the compressed or rarefied gas needs to be operated during the working of the apparatus.

In order to illustrate the invention there are shown as examjile in the acconipanying drawings several di'tt'erent forms otl const ruetion of the same.

Figures l, L and 3, show diagrammatically three different -forms ot construction of the invention and which are intended to be driven by means ot compressed gas. Figs. 4t and 5 show in the same way two other forms ot' construction intended to be driven by rarefied gas (suction). Fig. t3 illustrates diagrainniatically a method of connecting several pumps to one common driving device, which in accordance with this example, is shown to be arranged 'for working by means of compressed gas.

lu Fig. l, the numeral l indicates a reservoir which is connected by the pipe 2 with a compressor or reservoir if'or conipressed gas. 3 is a reservoir for liquid which communiea tes by means of the pipe l with the lower part ot the reservoir l. The reservoir 3 communicates with pipes 5 each of which is connected with or formed into reservoirs (i which are provided with inlet and outlet 7, S. From the lower part of the reservoir l. there proceeds a pipe 9 which projects upward and at its upper part communicates with the enlarged part l0 of' a pipe 1l which communicates with the reservoir 3.

The apparatus works in the following way: On the pump being put into motion the liquid reservoir 3 is filled with liquid up to the mouth of the pipe 4t, and in the lower part ot' the reservoir 1 there is a suitable amount of liquid which reaches to a proper height over the lower mouth of the pipe 9, so that a liquid seal is formed. lhen the compressed gas streams through the pipe 2 into the reservoir 1 the pressure in this latter is increased, so that the liquid in the reservoir 3 is pressed up through the pipes 5 into the reservoirs 6 and naturally also to the same level in the pipe 11. Simultaneously with this, however, the liquid in the lower part of the reservoir 1 is pressed up into the pipe 9. Vhen the liquid column in that pipe has reached the upper opening 12 of said pipe, then, on compressed gas continuing to iow into the reservoir l, the liquid in the pipe 9 will be forced out into the part 10 of the pipe 11 which is open at its top so that the reservoir 1 is put into communication with atmosphere by means of the pipe 9, whereby the pressure in the reservoir (practically) sinks to the outer pressure. This has for effect that the liquid pressed up in the reservoirs 6 and the pipes 5, and also the liquid which has been pressed outI through the pipe 9 into the pipe 11, sinks back into the reservoir 3, and a part of this liquid flows over the upper opening of the pipe 4e into the reservoir 1, so that the lower opening of the pipe 9 is again closed by the liquid and thus shuts off communication with the atmosphere, or, in other words, the original state of things is restored. On compressed gas continuing to stream in through the pipe 2 into the reservoir 1 the same process is repeated again and so on as long as compressed gas is led into the reservoir 1 through the pipe 2. From what has been said above it is seen that, in this manner a liquid column is made to alternately rise and sink in the pipes 5 or in the reservoirs 6 connected with these pipes. These liquid columns act in the same way as a pump piston. It, for example, in the pipe S an inwardly opening or suction-valve is arranged, and if in the pipe 7 an outwardly opening or pressure-valve is arranged-or if the said pipes are provided with liquid seals acting in the same waythen it is plain, that when the liquid column sinks, a suction will arise in the pipe 8 and a corresponding quantity of gas will be sucked into the reservoir 6, while, when the liquid column rises, the same quantity of gas will be pressed out through the pipe 7. The present invention can with advantage be used for the automatic carrying out of analyses of gases, in which case, the pipe 8 is connected with the supply-pipe for that gas which is to be analyzed, and the pipe 7 is connected with a pipette or reservoir containing an absorbing substance.

In the form of construction, which, as an example, is shown in the drawing, there are shown two pipes 5, but it is clear that only one or even more than two such pipes can be arranged, according as circumstances require.

The device can also be arranged in such a way that the reservoir 3 is replaced by a pipe which is in the same way connected with the pipes 5, 11 and 4, i. e., the reservoir' 3 is contracted to the shape of a pipe. The liquid which will be pressed up into the pipes 5 or reservoir 6 respectively, is, in such a case, collected in the bottom part of the reservoir 1, and is pressed up from there through the pipes 9, and 11 to the pipes 5 in the above stated manner.

In Fig. 2 there is shown another form ot' construction or' the invention which diiers from that shown in Fig. 1 chiefly in that the reservoir 1 in this case is arranged inside the reservoir 3 with which it communicates through an opening 4. arranged in the wall of the reservoir l. This form of construction works in the same way as that illustrated in Fig. l. Let it be assumed, that the reservoir 3 is filled with a liquid, for example, mercury, up to the level .marked by the dotted line 17, i. c., so high, that the liquid can run through the opening a into the reservoir 1, which as well as the pipes 11 and 5 are then iilled to the same level. Now, when a compressed gas, for example compressed air, is conducted into the reservoir 1 through the pipe 2, the liquid is pressed out of the reservoir 1 up into the pipe 9 andsince the gas in question also streams through the opening -1 into the reservoir 3 out of the reservoir up into the tubes 11 and 5 and the reservoir 6. W'hen the pressure in the reservoir 1 has risen so much that the liquid in the pipe 9 has reached the upper mouth of the same z'. c., when the maximum pressure has been reached the liquid rushes from the reservoir 1 up through the pipe 9 into the enlarged part 10 of the pipe 11, so that the lower opening of the pipe 2 becomes exposed, whereupon the gas streams out from the reservoir 1 through the pipe 9 and to the pipe 11, the upper enlarged. part of which communicates with the atmosphere so that the pressure in the reservoirs 1 and 3 falls to the outer pressure. The liquid which, during the period ot pressure, has been pressed up into the pipes 11 and 5 and the reservoir 6 respectively, to a height, which calculated from the lowest level ot the liquid in the reservoir 3, corresponds to the diii'erence ot level between the lower and the upper mouths of the pipe 9, now rushes back into the reservoir 3, and a part streams again through the opening l into the reservoir 1 and in so doing closes the lower mouth of the pipe 9 and thus cuts oit the connection of the reservoir 1 with the atmosphere, while the liquid again assumes (practically speaking, at least) its original level as marked by the dotted line 17. `While the compressed gas continues to be led in through the pipe 2, this process also continues to be repeated in the same way. A liquid column thus alterllO tit)

nately rises and falls in the reservoir t) and in so doing acts iu the above mentioned manner as a pump piston.

The forni ot consti'iictioii shown in Fig. E3 ditfers 'trom that illustrated in Fig. in this way, that according to this 't'orin ot eonstruction, the pipes 1l and enter the reser- `voir 3 directly. instead ot being connected with the saine by means ot a pipe. In this tigure there are also shown the suction and delivery pipe connections E and 1-1- and their valves 15 and 1G respectively. 'l'his it'orm ot' construction acts in quite. the same way as that shown in Fig. 2. 'for which reason a special description ot' the saine may be considered unnecessary.

.ln Fig. t there is shown a moditied Ytorm ot construction of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 which is intended to be worked by suction. In this ligure 1() is a reservoir which coininuiiicates with the reservoirs (3 by means ot the pipes 11, 18, AIn addition to this. the reservoir, 1.0, is also connected with a suction pipe, 12, in which a suction suitable Yt'or the purpose is brought about by the action ot' soine suction device, c. g. by the pipe 12 being connected with an evacuated reservoir, or an exhauster, ejector or the like. The reservoir (t is provided with pressure and suction pipes, 7 and 8, which are provided with pressure and suction valves respectivel)v or with liquid seals acting in the saine way. The reservoir 10 also communicates with a reservoir, 1, partly by a pipe tl which reaches alinost to the bottom ot rester-- voir l and partly by means ot' a pipe t which is connected with the pipe 18 and enters into the reservoir 1 a little above the lower mouth ot the pipe 9. The reservoir 1 also coinniuiiicates with the atmosphere by an openingl This Vt'orin ot apparatus acts in the t'ollowing way: Let it be supposed that the reservoirs together with the system oi pipes in connection with theni, are filled with a liquid, e. g., mercury, up to thc level which is marked by the dotted lines, L18. or, in other words, to the saine level as the iipper opening otthe pipe #1- w'liicli passes into the reservoir 1, and let us also assume that the amount ot liquid introduced into the apparatus is so chosen that there is i also a quantity of liquid sut'ticient tor the purpose ot working in the lower part of the reservoir 1 so that the liquid in this latter extends sonic distance above the lower mouth of the pipe t), for example, up to the dotted line, 19. As soon as the air beginsl to be sucked out o1" the reservoir, 1t), through the pipe, 12, so that a vacuum arises in the said reservoir, the consequence is that the liquid rises in or is sucked up into, the reservoir 10 and falls within the reservoirs, (3, the consequence o1 which is, that a suction takes place in the pipes, 8, so that, in the same degree as the liquid sinks in the reser- Noirs, G, gas, either troni the atmosphere in the torni ot air or 'trom a gas-reservoir conne-ted with the pipe, 8, streams into these reservoirs. (i, through the said pipe. Simultaneously the liquid is of course sucked from the lower part. ot the reservoir 1 up into the pi pe t) lor a distance corresponding to the vacuum in the reservoir 10. iVhen the vacuum in the reservoir 10 has become so great that; the liquid in the pipe, 9, has risen to its upper mouth, i. c., to its entrance into the reservoir, 10, the liquid, while the suction continues, streams out ot the reservoir l up through the pipe t) into the reservoir It). until the level o1 the liquid in the reservoir 1 has 'lallcn to thc lower mouth of the pipe t) and when this is going on, the air which comes into the reservoir 1 through the opening,2, streams through the pipe 9 into the reservoir 10, so that the vacuum there ceases to exist. The consequence of this is, that the liquid in the reservoir 10 which has been sucked up, sinks, and rises through the tubes, 11, 18, 5 into the reservoirs (i, the consequence ot' which is, that. the gases sucked through the pipes into these reservoirs are toi-eed out ot" them by the liquid through the pipes 7, in the coiii'se ot which process the pipes 8 are closed by the valves which are arranged in them. lVhen the reservoirs, have been tilted by the liquid which tlows hack trom the reservoir, 10, the superfluous liquid [lows through the pipe t into the i'eservoii'` 1. so that the lower mouth ot the pipe, il, by the 'forming ot' a liquid-seal is again closed and all the levels olf the liquid once more assume their initial positions. lVhile the suction continues in the pipe, 12, the saine process continues to be repeated, and goesI on as long as the suction conti nues. 'lhe arrangement can, too, be simplified in such a way that the reservoirs are left out, so that only thc reservoirs, 10, and 1 which communicate with each other, remain, in which case the reservoir 1 is provided both with a suction valve, and a pressure valve arranged in such a way that on the return ot" the liquid which has been sucked up into the reservoir 1()a to the reservoir 1 through the pipes 1 1, 4l, lthe gas which has been sucked into the reservoir 1 through the suction valve, is pressed out ot the said reservoir through the pressure valve.

ln `Fig. 5 there is illiisti'atcd how a torni of construction which, in other respects, ai'ialogous with that shown in Fig. 2, can be modified so as to be worked by suction. Yln this case, as in Fig. 'l, the reservoir lO is connected with a suction pipe, 12. The construction and method oil. working of the device ought to appear with su'llicient clearness 'from what has been said above with reference to Figs. 2 and l1.

Pumps, constructed in accordance with the present invention, can be used with advanactinO a oaratus for analyzing Oases.

C .l b D tage for various purposes. The experiments which have been made have shown thatthese pumps can be employed very advantageously for the driving of automaticall[y t ought to be clear, too, that the effect of the periodically occurring compression or increased pressure of gas which takes place in the reservoirs, 1, 8, according to Figs. 1 to 3 and of the periodically occurring rarefaction of air Which, according to Figs. 4 and 5, takes place in the reservoir, 10, can also be used in the manner described above, in separate pumps, c. g., in such a way that the said reservoirs are put in connection, by means of suitable pipes, With tubes or vessels communicating` with each other and containing a liquid-or cylinders containing suitable pump pistons-so that the above mentioned periodically recurring variations in pressure may act on the said pump pistons so that these are put into reciprocating motion or on the liquid columns inthe said vessels or tubes so that the liquid in the same is made to fall and rise like a pump piston. Such an arrangement is illustrated as an example by Fig. 6. In this figure there is shown a compression-device of the same construction as that shown in Fig. Q. The periodical rising and falling pressure which, in the Way described above, is brought about in the reservoirs 1, 3, is transmitted in this case by means of pipes 21, Which for instance can be connected to the reservoir 1, in a Way which is shown in FiO. 6 by means of a branched connection 22 communicating With said reservoir, and each of these pipes, 21, is connected With liquid reservoirs, 20, each of Which again communicates with one or several pipes 5 and reservoirs, G, to Which pressure, and suction pipes, 7, 8, are connected. The periodically rising and falling pressure in the reservoirs 1 and 8 respectively Will thus act on the liquid in the reservoirs 20 in such a Way, that a liquid column Will have a rising and falling movement in the pipes 5 andthe reservoirs 6 Which communicate with said reservoirs, 20, which liquid columns Will then act as pump pistons in the manner described above. Such an arrangement as shown in Fig. 6 can, of course, also be arranged for Working by means of suction in the Way shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The pipes, 21, can of course as above stated instead of being connected to the reservoirs 20 be connected to pump cylinders containing suitably arranged pump pistons which are then brought into reciprocating movement by the action of the rising and falling pressures in the reservoirs 3 and 1.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is 1. A pump comprising a pair of reservoirs, a pipe connecting the bottoms of said reservoirs, a liquid in said parts, a pipe having one end extending down into the liquid in one reservoir and its other end connected With the atmosphere and the before-mentioned pipe and a pump connected with said reservoir containing the liquid seal pipe.

2. A pump comprising a pair of reservoirs, al pipe connecting the bottoms of said reservoirs, a liquid in said pipe and in the bottom of one of the reservoirs, a pipe having one end extending down into the liquid in one of the reservoirs and its other end connected With the atmosphere and the before -mentioned pipe, and a compression means connected With the reservoir contain ing the liquid.

3. A pump comprising a reservoir, a second reservoir, situated at a higher level than the irst reservoir, a pipe connecting the bottoms of said reservoirs, a pipe having one end extending down into the bottom of the firstreservoir and having its other end connected With the atmosphere and With the before-mentioned pipe, a liquid in the first reservoir covering the end of said pipe, said liquid extending into the pipes, and a compression pump connected with the first mentioned reservoir.

il. A pump comprising a reservoir, a casing therein having a hole located above its bottom communicating With the reservoir, a compression pump in communication with said casing, ay second reservoir located above the level of the first mentioned reservoir, a pipe connecting the bottoms of said reser voirs, said pipe and first mentioned reservoir containing a liquid, the normal level of which is even with the hole in the casing, a pipe having its lower end reaching to the bot-tom of the casing and having its upper end communicating With the air and With the before mentioned pipe.

In Witness whereof I have signed my name to this speciication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

OLOF RODI-IE. lVitnesses AUG. OLAGELIN, A. DENERssoN. 

